Unit 9
Hello all,
I am submitting and sharing my Unit 9 Final Project for reviewing and suggestions. The spacing and font size is messed up and I don't know why. It happened when I copied and paste into blog, sorry. Hopefully you will read. I am looking forward to your comments and thoughts:
Introduction
There has been a loop hole between modern medicine and ancient wisdom regarding healing and a need to shift our focus from outside to inside to derive at the connection of mind/body to healing and well being. The shift and focus is found in integral medicine and health approach which is a journey of self-transformation to a life of health, happiness and wholeness (Dacher, 2006). The gravity of healing shifts progressively from physical to psychological to spiritual, from outer reliance to inner development (Dacher, 2006). The theory and aim of integral medicine is to use a complete and comprehensive approach to treat any illness while being constrained by realties of time, insurance limitations and office management (Schlitz, Amorok, & Micozzi, 2005). While it is a more effective and efficient way to help patients it also helps the health-care professional handle professional problems and painful dilemmas. It is important for professionals to shift their focus or gaze inward to find the ever present source of exceptional health and healing.
Assessment
At the onset of this class we were instructed to
complete an assessment and score our wellness spiritually, physically and
psychologically. On a scale from 1 to 10
my personal assessment of mind/body/spirit was: physical well-being at 6, spiritual well-being at 8, and my psychological well-being at 8. As I am at the end of this course and taking
a look back and reviewing the initial assessment, I believe there has been
improvement but there is more transforming needed for real lifestyle change. The information and learning process has
brought an awareness of needed change and improvement.
Beginning first with the lowest scored area of wellness and probably the
easier to make change would be in the physical well being (scored at 6). Our exterior body must be fit and in synch
with interior organs to bring harmony in the body in order to maintain and
house our wellness. Being overweight
slows the processes down and hampers my ability to have wholeness. My Goal first was to join a
fitness club and begin daily walking, on my own, to become physically active
and fit. This effort will progress to
weight loss, forty pounds, and feeling healthier physically. My psychological well being (scored at 8)
needs strengthening. Initially, when
assessed, I set a goal of daily task
assignments and devoting time solely to the items listed and not take on other
stuff thrown at me. It has been
working. My spiritual well-being (scored at 8) needs attention and
commitment. Initiating a
Sabbath Rest was my goal for lifestyle change in this area. Setting aside one half day of quiet time with
Master has been implemented but have not been consistent. This needs improvement but it is working.
Practices for personal health
Spiritual well being – I
will implement strategies of prayer and meditation. I will use Preparation 3, silence and
stillness, a toning down of outer activity, letting go of the unnecessary and
trivial distractions in order to become more in touch with the primary source
of my being.
Physical well being –
exercise and diet are two entities that usually are connected and are very much
required for better physical well being.
Healthier diet is the center of focus for a large part of America
today. We are what we eat and in order
to have a healthier lifestyle we must eat healthier.
Psychological well being
- With many things going on the mind needs down time to clear and recharge to
skillful behavior as learned in Preparation 2, skillful action. Also, Preparation 3, silence and stillness, offers
a source of toning down of outer activity, letting go of the unnecessary and
trivial distractions in order to become more in touch with the primary source
of my being.
Commitment
Assessing progress or the lack of progress will be a task that requires
diligence and determination to accomplish goals. Before the lifestyle change is implemented
developing a chart with domains and goals listed will help to keep me on the
path of my journey.
I will use post-it notes to remind me of tasks. There are task reminders on the computer and
they will be set up and implemented to accomplish goals. The final tool will be keeping a journal or
diary to log progress and feelings along the journey to human flourishing.
In order to maintain long-term practices for health and wellness I have
printed out a statement read in our text that had a profound impact and gave me
much awareness of health, happiness, and wholeness -- "we must stop doing what hurts us before we can move
forward" (Dacher, 2006). In order
to have a lifestyle change, there must be change in all areas of life.
Hi Drucilla,
ReplyDeleteGood job on your assessment. In your introduction you talk about the importance of integral health and the loop hole that exsist between conventional and integral healthcare. What will you do to help bridge the gap?
Great goals! Will joining a fitness club ensure you stick to your goals? Many times when people have to pay a monthly fee they stick to the program. Is the club close to you? Will you go AM or PM?
Good ideas for the psychological those are my favorite practices as well. The brief version of the loving kindness is a great one to use in everyday life. When will you set aside the time for meditation? Will you practice the spiritual at the same time? These are some great things I can implement as well. How are you going to then use this to help others? Great ideas!
Hi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for blogging with me. To bridge the gap I am going to become vigilant in the processes with myself so that I can affirm and promote the usage of the processes and educate myself more about integral health. In this unit reading, there were retreat centers listed that teach and promote integral health. I am going to search out some closer to my residence and attempt to go on a retreat for experience and learning.
Yes the club is close to me and I have already joined for a $10/month fee. I am not as active as I plan to get but it is a process and I will follow through since I have been "talking the talk but not walking the walk". I am a late morning person.
Currently meditation has been occurring in the later evening but as I pursue he process I will determine when it would be better and then become consistent. Although the spiritual and psychological time could be integrated I am working toward separate times. I have set 1/2 day on Friday from my awake hour to 12 noon for Bible reading and Sabbath Rest. This is as special as meditation but really is at two different levels.
Once the processes begin to come together, I will use the quiet mind to be more in touch and in tune with women in my program. I will use my prayer time to pray for the program, the residence and all the women and myself. In my prayer time I will practice more lovingkindness too.
Let me know how you make out with your goals and implementing the ideas. Best wishes
I agree with you about the retreats they sound interesting and worth giving a try. Maybe I should try my own Eat/Pray/Love. That is great that the gym is near by, I have all the equipment at my house but like many people do find excuses for not spending as much time using them as I should. That is why a personal coach may be good for me. Your spiritual goals sound great! This is the start of the Lenten season so it is the perfect time to set aside some time to meditate or practice the loving kindness exercises. Good luck with your goals. The plan you have sounds like a great way to keep you focused.
DeleteLeslie
Hi Drucilla,
ReplyDeleteYour blog was wonderful (don’t worry about the font – your blog was rich). I am happy to hear that you have joined workout program. That should be very helpful to you. If possible try to reach out to a friend and ask for a workout partner. I have found that on those days that I try to find excuses not to go and workout, your friend can help to erase away your reasons for not going.
I also like your commitment to taking a day as your Sabbath. This is important to slow down the body, mind and make space for God to speak to us. Sometimes we can get so busy doing “church work” we miss those opportunities when God is trying to minister to us.
I have a very close friend who counseled women who were in a drug rehab center, and sometimes, she would pull away and not want to spend time with us when she had had a very overwhelming week because she said she needed to rejuvenate herself because the work would pull on her emotionally, mentally and physically.
Drucilla, it has really been a joy to be in this class with you and I wish you much success as you continue on your path towards integral health!
Sincerely,
Barbara Bryson
Barbara,
DeleteThanks for responding and blogging with me. I just wanted you to kmow that reading your post made me feel warm because I feel your sincerity. I became emotional realizing that this thing is working or rather loving kindness and subtle mind are in place. You are a pleasant person and I feel your personality in your responses.
Yes I am on a journey to work in a hard place and will need the benefits of this class to keep me in touch in all areas and especially with myself.
I wish you health, happiness and wholeness too.
Dru Van Wright
Hey Drucilla! I found you assessment to be very inspiring. I have been spiritual my whole life, but in recent years I have been lacking in the most important area of my whole mind and body, spirituality. I figured I could handle the stress of day to day life as a employee, student and mother without guidance but failed to realize the importance of prayer. I enjoyed reading you strategies for your spiritual health and I agree with you. Thank you for the insight and positive remarks throughout this course. I hope as you continue things are the best and your life is enlightened!
ReplyDeleteJenn
Hi Jenn,
DeleteThanks for reviewing my assessment and giving such helpful and kind comments. Spirituality is a key component in my existence. My inner person must be okay before my outer person can be who I am to be in life. It is not always balanced but after this class I now know how to work on it. I am glad that I could share my feelings and the things revealed to me in this with my classmates. I have enjoyed blogging with you and will pray for your spiritual connectedness. Best wishes.
Dru Van Wright
Hello Dru,
ReplyDeleteThe goals you've set for yourself are attainable...which means that you have set yourself up for success. I think many times people create goals that are too high and impossible to achieve; and then when they can’t reach them, they are left discouraged. As I read your blog this week, I see that you have really put some thought and effort into assessing yourself and created a plan that will best work for you in the long run. I think that joining a health club will definitely benefit you to jumpstart your physical wellness. Exercising with other people around you tends to push you to do more...I know I’ve experienced that for myself. Physical well-being is important because it truly aids in achieving psychological and spiritual well-being. I struggle with my physical wellness but I’m determined to get better just as you are! I also liked your idea of post-it notes for daily tasks; I think that’s a great idea. Taking it one day at a time…one task at a time…it’s a sure path to success. I think I will be using your idea for myself…it’s a great way to help accomplish goals on a daily basis. I especially like the statement you found in the text…”we must stop doing what hurts us before we can move forward.” This is so true! In order to move forward, we need to awaken and become aware of our destructive behaviors and emotions…only then can we progress towards integral health.
I have enjoyed your blogs…found them to be inspirational and learned a lot from them…thank you! I wish you luck on your path to integral health!
Manisha
Manisha,
DeleteOne day at a time is all that I ask and God will grant the rest. I am gald that you read my assessment and that I could offer something you could use. There is much truth in the cited quote in all areas of life. Stop was another profound word that was in our meditation practices. Change is what a healthy lifestyle is about and I plan to change.
Thanks for blogging with me and I will pray for your health, happiness and wholeness.
Dru Van Wright